Draft-equalizer.



'C. B. POWELL.

DRAFT EQUALIZER. APPLICATION FILED 'JAN. 29. I916.

1,2415%42. Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

igh-2 /7 A5 0 7 60 n uamfo CLAUDE B. POWELL, OE GUYMON, OKLAHOMA.

DRAFT-EQUALIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

Application filed January 29, 1916. Serial No. 75,122.

To all 10 hom it may concern:

it known that I, CLAUDE B. POWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Guymon, in the county of Texas and State of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements in Draft-Equalizers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a draft equalizer, and it has for its object to produce a fourhorse equalizer of simple and improved construction. 1

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and improved four-horse equalizer of that type in which two double teams are arranged one in front of the other.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and improved four-horse equalizer of that type which is applicable to a vehicle having a tongue, one team being hitched in front of the tongue in such a manner that it may assist in guiding the vehicle.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifica tions within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a fourhorse equalizer constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken transversely through the vehicle tongue and showing the main parts of the equalizer in front elevation.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation with dotted lines indicating the draft bar supported as it will be when the device is utilized as a two horse equalizer.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of ref erence.

The main doubletree A. of the improved device is composed of top and bottom bars 15, 16 which are connected together near the ends thereof by bolts 17 and clips 18, the bolts 17 serving as pivot members for the equalizer bars or levers 19, the latter being mounted between the top and bottom bars, as best seen in Fig. 2. The top and bottom bars are also connected together by means of keepers or hammer straps or limiting straps 20 which are extended forwardly and rearwardly of the intervening space between the top and bottom bars so that the free movement of the equalizer bars or levers 19 will not be interfered with, while at the same time the swinging movement of said bars or levers will be confined within proper limits. The outer ends of the equalizer bars or levers 19 are-provided with clips 21 with which the swingletrees 22, which are of ordinary construction, are connected in a conventional manner.

The inner ends of the equalizer bars or levers 19 are connected together by a flexible element, such as a chain 23, said chain being guided over a pulley 24 which is supported for rotation in an eye or loop 25 at the rear ward end of a draft bar 26. The rearward end of the draft bar is'supported by the chain 23, and the forward end of said draft bar is connected by a short chain or flexible element 27 with the hold back28 at the forward end of the tongue 29, the front end of the draft bar being thus freely suspended a short distance below the forward end of the tongue. The draft bar, when thus sus pended, terminates a short distance in rear of the forward extremity of the tongue on which latter the main doubletree of the device is supported or mounted in the customary manner by means of abolt or pivot member 29'. The draft bar is provided at its forward end with a link 30 with which an ordinary doubletree 31 having swingletrees 32 may be connected, as shown.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawing hereto annexed it will be evident that draft exerted by a team attached to the doubletree 31 will be transmitted through the draft bar 26 to the inner ends of the levers or equalizer bars 19, said draft being equalized by the horses that are singly connected with the outer ends of the levers or equalizer bars. Should it be desired to utilize the device as a two-horse equalizer it is only necessary to detach the doubletree 32 and to pull the draft bar for ward until the link 31. may he slipped over the front end of the tongue so as to rest against the hold back 28, as :seen in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The inner ends of the levers 19 will thus be drawn forward until-they engage the limiting straps 20, and said levers will be secured in such a manner as to "be practically incapable of independent move ment, the parts having been properly proportioned for this purpose. The draft of a team of horses hitched to the swingletrees 22 will thus be equalized by a main double tree -15. v

The improved equalizer is applicable to any vehicle or Wagon having a tongueand may be readily applied or detached as required.

.Havingthus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a draft equalizer, a main doubletree comprisingtop and bottom bars, clips connectingthesame near the ends thereof, bolts extending vertically through the clips, levers iifiqpiesvotthis patent may be obtained for toi'igue'having a hold-hack stud near its for- "ard end, and a draft bar carrying a pulley over which the chain connecting the inner ends of the levers is guided, said draft bar having at its front end a link which may be placed on. the end of the tongue in engagement with the hold-back stud when the draft bar is drawn forward to place the inner ends of the equalizing levers substantially in engagement with the limitingstraps.

2., A vehicle tongue having a hold-back stud, an equalizer pivoted on the tongue and comprising a main doubletree, equalizing levers in substantial engagement with the means for limiting the movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I afiix my slgnature in presence of two witnesses.

CLAUDE B. POWELL. lVitnesses R. L. HoMsLnY, GEO. M. FRIETZ. 1

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of la'cem'n:- *WashingtomD. G. 

